Sheared edge on fuel cell components for wicking of water

Abstract

A fuel cell component including a body disposed along a plane and having a boundary past which a reactant and water flows is provided. The boundary has a discontinuous edge adapted to militate against a pinning of the water at the edge. The fuel cell component may be a bipolar plate having a port hole with the discontinuous edge. The fuel cell component may be a subgasket for a fuel cell having a boundary with the discontinuous edge. The discontinuous edge facilitates a transportation of water from an upper surface of the fuel cell component to a lower surface of the fuel cell component.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A fuel cell component, comprising:
 a body disposed along a plane and having a boundary past which a reactant and water flows, the boundary separating an upper surface of the body from a lower surface of the body and defining an aperture on the body, wherein the body includes a pair of shear cuts that do not intersect each other formed in the body adjacent the boundary, the shear cuts forming a discontinuous edge in the boundary to militate against a pinning of the water at the boundary, the shear cuts further forming a tab in the body therebetween, the tab having a shape different from a shape of the aperture. 
 
     
     
       2. The fuel cell component of  claim 1 , wherein at least one crevice is formed between one of the shear cuts and the tab. 
     
     
       3. The fuel cell component of  claim 2 , wherein the tab is bent out of the plane of the body. 
     
     
       4. The fuel cell component of  claim 2 , wherein the tab is twisted out of the plane of the body such that a first side edge of the tab formed by a first shear cut is elevated relative to the plane of the body while a second side edge of the tab formed by a second shear cut is recessed relative to the plane of the body. 
     
     
       5. The fuel cell component of  claim 1 , wherein the discontinuous edge forms a continuous water flow path from an upper surface of the body to a lower surface of the body. 
     
     
       6. A bipolar plate for a fuel cell, comprising:
 a first unipolar plate and a second unipolar plate, at least one of the first unipolar plate and the second unipolar plate having an active surface with a flowfield formed therein, at least one of the first unipolar plate and the second unipolar plate having a port hole formed therein; and 
 an outlet header disposed at an end of the first unipolar plate and the second unipolar plate and including an exhaust opening formed therethrough, 
 wherein the port hole is configured to direct a flow of reactant and water to the outlet header, the port hole having a discontinuous edge to militate against a pinning of the water at the port hole, the discontinuous edge formed by a pair of shear cuts that do not intersect each other formed in the at least one of the first unipolar plate and the second unipolar plate adjacent the port hole, the shear cuts forming a tab in the at least one of the first unipolar plate and the second unipolar plate therebetween, the tab having a shape different from a shape of the port hole. 
 
     
     
       7. The bipolar plate of  claim 6 , wherein the tab is cut back from a remainder of the port hole. 
     
     
       8. The bipolar plate of  claim 6 , wherein the tab is twisted out of the plane of the at least one of the first unipolar plate and the second unipolar plate such that a first side edge of the tab formed by a first shear cut is elevated relative to the plane of the at least one of the first unipolar plate and the second unipolar plate while a second side edge of the tab formed by a second shear cut is recessed relative to the plane of the at least one of the first unipolar plate and the second unipolar plate. 
     
     
       9. The bipolar plate of  claim 6 , wherein the discontinuous edge crosses over a crevice between the first and second unipolar plates to allow the water to wick from a lower surface of the first unipolar plate to a top surface of the second unipolar plate, the first and second unipolar plates forming a tunnel therebetween to direct the flow of the reactant and the water to the outlet header. 
     
     
       10. The bipolar plate of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one of the first unipolar plate and the second unipolar plate has a hydrophilic coating disposed adjacent the boundary. 
     
     
       11. The bipolar plate of  claim 6 , further including a wicking element disposed at a periphery of the exhaust opening in the outlet header, the wicking element facilitating a wicking of the water from bipolar plate. 
     
     
       12. The fuel cell component of  claim 1 , wherein the boundary is wider than the tab. 
     
     
       13. The fuel cell component of  claim 1 , wherein the boundary is in the form of a port hole. 
     
     
       14. The fuel cell component of  claim 1 , wherein the boundary is in the form of a reactant inlet or an exhaust outlet. 
     
     
       15. The fuel cell component of  claim 1 , wherein the boundary is in the form of a terminal end of the fuel cell component. 
     
     
       16. The fuel cell component of  claim 1 , wherein the tab is cut back from a remainder of the boundary to form a corner extending from an upper surface of the body to a lower surface of the body. 
     
     
       17. The fuel cell component of  claim 1 , wherein the tab includes peaks and valleys. 
     
     
       18. The fuel cell component of  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a fiber-containing composite material and the tab includes fibers extending from the cut edge of the boundary. 
     
     
       19. The bipolar plate of  claim 6 , wherein at least one crevice is formed between one of the shear cuts and the tab. 
     
     
       20. A fuel cell component comprising:
 a first body disposed along a plane and having an aperture defined by a boundary, the aperture configured for a reactant and water to flow therethrough, wherein the first body includes a pair of shear cuts that do not intersect each other formed in the first body adjacent the boundary, the shear cuts forming a serrated discontinuous edge, the serrated discontinuous edge forming a portion of the boundary and militating against a pinning of the water at the boundary, the shear cuts further forming a tab in the body therebetween, the tab having a shape different from a shape of the aperture; 
 a second body; and 
 a crevice formed by a junction between a lower planar surface of the first body and an upper surface of the second body, the crevice providing a continuous path for drainage of water from an upper surface of the first body and away from the fuel cell component.